How do you pay for healthcare in the US

1. 61

   Rosemay50posted 11 years ago

   How do you pay for healthcare in the US
   
   
   If you have no money because you can’t work due to health issues and you have no insurance, how do you pay for the doctors’ bills and treatment?  Not knowing how your system works I am curious.

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2. 0

   Curiadposted 11 years ago

   If you can not work due to illness and have no insurance, you are basically stuck with nothing. You can apply for state medical, but if you have no children you usually will be denied like I was. Then your only option is emergency care in a hospital or pay cash.

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   1. 61

      Rosemay50posted 11 years agoin reply to this

      It is hard to believe that someone who has worked and paid taxes all their lives are denied proper healthcare when they need it. Brings to mind the saying 'Your country needs you' sounds like all take and no give.

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3. 68

   MikeNVposted 11 years ago

   You go without and Obamacare doesn't fix that. You can apply for Medicaid but you have to be essentially destitute.  And good luck finding a good Doctor who wants anything to do with these Government Programs and the paperwork nightmare.  True Quality Medical care is available only to the wealthy.  And that's just how it is, nothing is changing for the better.

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      Rosemay50posted 11 years agoin reply to this

      I take it if you own a house you are not considered destitute. I heard the red tape is a nightmare.

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4. 74

   Diana Leeposted 11 years ago

   People often die simply because they have no health insurance and don't seek medical help in time. Our system sucks.  Elderly work longer than they should just to be able to keep the insurance their employer offers.

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   1. 61

      Rosemay50posted 11 years agoin reply to this

      All of these answers shook me up, I didn't realise it was so bad. The elderly are more likely to need healthcare. I can't believe after a lifetime of paying tax they still have to work for to pay the insurance.

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      Seeker7posted 11 years agoin reply to this

      I agree Rosemay, coming from the UK and having the NHS we tend to forget how hard it must be for less well off folks in other countries!

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      lupineposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      I wish the United States had a health plan similar to yours, everyone could be so much healthier and happier too.

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5. 79

   Becky Katzposted 11 years ago

   If you have no money or insurance, you can go to the County Health Dept. and get medical care. They charge a percentage of your monthly income so if you aren't making anything, you don't pay anything. There is also Social Security Disability, which will pay until you get healthy again or if you won't, they pay for your health care as well as a stipend.
   The hospitals are also required by law to take indigent people in for treatment. They will help you get help paying the bills through County and State programs. There are also groups that help with prescriptions if you don't have money for them. Many of the drug companies have programs to help if you do not have the money for needed medications also.

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   1. 61

      Rosemay50posted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Becky there seems to be a lot of options but it doesn't sound from above answers that it is this easy for most.  It sounds as though the destitute with children would be taken care of but there seems to be some awfully big holes in that net.

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   2. 79

      Becky Katzposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      The people without children can get help too, they just don't know how. I have helped several work their way through the channels.

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6. 64

   lupineposted 11 years ago

   Like other hubbers said, if you have children, you will get help with paying for healthcare, if you don't have children or they are over 18 you will not get help through the county/state system. I am in the state of California, other states in USA may have different laws. I recently did research on this subject, found out that if anybody is diagnosed with cancer, they will automatically be covered under the county/state medical program...it was only mentioned 1 time in small print, so they really don't want anyone to know this...I have never heard of it before, but it is true. Another way to get healthcare is to find a good, caring doctor, which I found, charged me about 1/2 regular rate, and used her "free" lab testing form, she had available and said if I received a bill, but I shouldn't, to not pay it and give it to her. (she said the government gives doctors forms for "free" lab tests for 5 to 6 people each month and anyone the doctor chooses is eligible and covered)  I had no been told this before by any doctor. I was so grateful, otherwise; I wouldn't have been able to get the care I needed. Another thing, the insurance companies will not take you if you have pre-existing conditions, and if they do, you have a 6  month waiting period before you can use it, very expensive...so that's usually not an option if you have no money. If you go to emergency, at a hospital, they are obligated to reduce the bill by 30% for those with no insurance, there was a class action suit on this about 3 years ago. Then you can also let them know you will make payments. They don't make it easy to work with either. So if you are sick and have no money, you may feel even sicker after all this, and be in debt. When I first needed the care, I didn't know any of this and had to find out the hard way.

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      Rosemay50posted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Thank you Lupine for your very detailed answer.  You shared informatione here that not many will be aware of, perhaps a hub would be a way of making people aware. The last thing anyone sick needs is worrying about payments and falling into debt.

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7. 0

   JThomp42posted 11 years ago

   Being a single man with no children, a Doctor would probably not even see me without insurance. I have been there and done that. If the emergency room is your choice, they will the bare necessities to help you and get you out the door.

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      lupineposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      I believe it, they don't care about a person's health unless they know you will be able to pay. So sad.

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      Rosemay50posted 11 years agoin reply to this

      It's an unfair system, the people ARE the country and should be looked after no matter who.

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      JThomp42posted 11 years agoin reply to this

      I agree!

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8. 85

   Jackie Lynnleyposted 11 years ago

   You must have a disability or children to qualify for medicaid here. The problem with this is that many from other countries have come in and had children which makes them citizen so the parents are able then to get benefits through the child and this has cost tax payers billions of tax payer dollars while we have many citizens needing help not to count the many thousands of unemployed now and homeless. There are also scams coming to light that nothing is being done about, with people not even living here receiving monies. It is a mess.

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   1. 61

      Rosemay50posted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Sounds as though the system needs a real good shake up. Charity should begin at home.
      I do know of people who have gone to the States for surgeries that are not available in the home countries but they are usually paid for by fund raising etc.

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